Monday, 23 March 2015

Sacred Construction of Wooden Houses in South Sulawesi

In South Sulawesi there are four ethnic : Bugis , Makassar , Mandar and Toraja . Bugis , Makassar , and Mandar have similarities in culture and day-to- day way of life . Bugis has the largest population and inhabit most areas of South Sulawesi . Generally, home of the Bugis -shaped wooden house on stilts with a long rectangular pillars which bear high floor and roof . Construction of the home made ​​off – pairs ( knock down ) so that it can be moved from one place to another .

Bugis people looked at home not just a place to stay but also as a center of the life cycle . Where people were born , grew up , married , and died . Therefore, building a house must be based traditions and beliefs inherited generations of ancestors .

Bugis people build a house without a picture . Construction of houses conducted by the Panrita Ball ( expert home ) and Panre Ball ( home builders ) . Panrita Ball handling things of a spiritual nature , customs and beliefs . The ball is being Panre do things technical , processing of wood into structural components stand up to the house and are habitable .

System structure and construction of the house consists of five components : ( 1 ) the main frame ( post and beam ) , ( 2 ) construction of floors , ( 3 ) construction of the wall , ( 4 ) construction of the roof , ( 5 ) construction of stairs . Everything is made to knock down system . Pole , beam , and stairs made ​​of wood class , while other construction components made ​​of wood two classes .

Work usually begins with making Posi Ball ( navel house ) , a pole which is considered as a symbol of ‘ female ‘ , controlling mother who lives in the house . Number of poles depending on the size of the house , usually 20 poles ( 5 × 4 line pole ) or 30 pole ( 5 × 6 line pole ) . Number of poles indicate social status of residents. The more poles the higher the social status of the owner of the house . King’s house ( sao king ) , the king usually has a pole 40 pieces or more .

Interior of the house is generally a carving on the end beam , doorway and window , holding the ladder and end of the roof ridge crests .

Analogy overworld ( Botting langi ) : life above human consciousness associated with beliefs that are not visible ( holy , kindness , suggestions , sacred ) . As the public understanding pemangkunya ( Bugis ) that the world is the abode of Goddess rice ( Sange – Serri ) . With this understanding many Bugis people assume that the top of the house ( Botting langi ) used for storage of rice or other crops . In addition it is also commonly used for hiding places girls who were secluded .

Middle-earth analogy ( Ale – Kawa ) : Life of human conscious in nature related to daily activities . Kawa ale – house or agency is divided into three parts : ( a) . Front used to receive the relatives / family as well as a custom activity . ( b ) Middle section used for bedrooms elder people , including the head of the family ( father / mother ) . ( c ) In the space used for children’s bedrooms

Underworld analogy ( Awa Ball / under the house ) : Related to the medium used to seek fortune , including agricultural equipment , where weaving , animal cages and a playground for children .

The stage construction consisting of the upper level , middle , and bottom are described as follows:

The upper level is used to store grain and heirlooms . Middle level , which is used as a residence , divided into spaces to receive guests , sleeping , dining and kitchen . Basic level which is below the floor diggunakan to keep farming tools , and livestock pens . Bugis traditional home can also be classified based on the status of the owner or by the prevailing social stratification .